Strangers in Time

Outside, Molly meets Charlie, the boy who was hiding from the police, and gives him advice on how to treat a cut on his hand. She thinks Charlie is a thief, but he brushes off her questions. She offers him a half-crown for directions to the Ministry of Food and shows him the Ministry’s address on her father’s letter. Charlie agrees to lead her there. Molly can’t drive the family’s car, so they head to a nearby bus stop, where Molly produces two shillings for their fare.

Charlie and Molly board the bus. A conductor interrogates them about their late-night excursion, but Charlie makes up a believable story. They get off at their stop, and Molly follows Charlie to the darkened Ministry of Food building, where no one answers the door. Molly surmises that her father has left for home already. 

Charlie thinks Molly sounds educated, so he tells her about the nearby Book Keep. Charlie spots an unlocked bike and offers to pedal Molly home on it, since there aren’t any more buses for the night. He promises to bring the bike back, since Molly is hesitant about stealing. Charlie cycles to Molly’s house with her sitting on the handlebars.